Radio 4 is a station for anyone interested in intelligent speech. Its schedule is packed with the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Details of schedules are often only confirmed a short time before broadcast and we. We suggest you check regularly in the schedules on the Radio 4 site, in the A-Z listings on the site or in programmes listings guides such as The Radio Times.

Unfortunately we are unable to supply the details of music extracts that have been included in radio programmes although some programmes include this information on their programme pages on the Radio 4 site. You can find these pages on the A-Z listings.

Generally we do not produce transcripts for Radio 4 programmes. There are a couple of exceptions e.g. In Touch, The Reith Lectures and Alistair Cooke's Letter From America. You can find a link to download these transcripts on the specific programme pages.

Some Radio 4 programmes are available to buy in CD or digital download formats. Where titles are available links to a number of online retailers will usually appear in the 'buyer's guide' section on the relevant programme's web site.

You can also try the National Sound Archive which has a wide collection of broadcast radio that may be available under the inter-library loan scheme.

Teachers are free to play radio programmes to classes - access programmes that are available to listen to on the schedule. The playing or performing of copyright works (including sound recordings) in the course of activities of educational establishments does not infringe copyright. However, the BBC's agreements with rights holders prevent us from authorising copies being made of radio programme streams for this purpose.

Otherwise, Radio 4 programmes are not available for re-broadcast, except by formal legal agreement, including payment of a fee.

Radio 4 recognises that a group of its listeners value a daily worship programme. In order to provide a daily service for those who wanted it, as well as offering an alternative for those who don't, it was decided to split the network with the Daily Service being broadcast on Long Wave.

Long Wave was chosen for two reasons as the home for the Daily Service: LW is the signal which everyone can receive wherever they are in the UK, and LW usage amongst Daily Service listeners is slightly higher than among other Radio 4 listeners.

Radio frequencies are allocated by the Government and Radio 4 is uniquely privileged in having two frequencies - FM and Long Wave. We have to use these frequencies to provide the best service to the greatest number of listeners.

Our research tells us that about two million people tune in to each match. It was therefore decided by the BBC's Board of Governors that the best option was to utilise Radio 4's Long Wave, with all the mainstream programming on FM. Most Radio 4 listeners choose to use the FM frequency rather than Long Wave when it is available, so this seemed to be the best use of our resources. Also, FM carries stereo, which is not necessary for cricket, but is, for example, for dramas. We can only apologise to those listeners who do not receive FM.

The music before the late-night shipping forecast is called Sailing By. It was composed by Ronald Binge, who wrote much other light music, notably Elizabethan Serenade. He also arranged Charmaine for Mantovani's orchestra. He died in 1979.

Sailing By's function on the network is to fill any airtime between the end of the late reading, at approximately 12.45am, and the shipping forecast at 12.48am, which mariners rightly expect us to transmit precisely on schedule. Very rarely, Sailing By might not be played at all because of time constraints. The version of Sailing By we use is not available commercially but you will find similar versions of the tune on CDs which feature the music of Ronald Binge.

There is a book to accompany the series, written by Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum. This was published in October 2010 by Allen Lane and is available from most book retailers. ISBN - 978-1-846-14413-4.

The system for making programmes available to 'listen again' online is automated. This automated system allows us to make all of our programmes available but there is a short period after broadcast, while the audio is encoded, before the programme appears online.

Programmes are normally available approximately 30 minutes after the end of transmission but occasionally it can take longer.

Macromedia Flash allows you to watch and listen to audio, video and interactive content on the Internet. BBC Webwise has more information about Flash player, including instruction on how to download a free Flash player plug-in

Listen live online, and listen to programmes broadcast in the past seven days at Radio 4's website (listen live by accessing the link in the top banner; catch up on a past programme by finding a programme in the schedule) or in the A-Z listing.

Long Wave disruptionfrom March 2014

The BBC's Droitwich transmitter will be subject to daily shutdowns on BBC Radio 4 LW, between 10:00-17:30, from Saturday 29 March until Summer 2014. There will also be periods of reduced power for BBC Radio 5 Live MW. This is to enable engineers to work safely, while refurbishing the long wave antenna, and the two masts which support it.

Long Wave programmes are not available to listen again on iPlayer Radio.

You may have noticed the appearance of the console that pops up when you click a 'listen' link has changed. This is because Radioplayer has launched. Radioplayer is a partnership between the BBC and UK Commercial Radio. Together we've developed a player that gives audiences a simple and consistent online listening experience. Radioplayer allows you to discover and listen to live and on demand radio from Ofcom licensed UK radio stations.

The Radioplayer console will pop up to play audio when you click to listen live or play listen again content on BBC Radio websites. It's similar in appearance to the previous BBC console with some new features including the ability to search for live and on demand radio from stations across the UK.

If your mobile phone has an FM receiver, you can listen to Radio 4 on 92-95FM. If it has an MP3 player you can listen to podcasts of Radio 4 programmes.

Many Radio 4 programmes are available as podcasts or downloads, which you can listen to on any MP3 player (more info about podcasts). Downloads can be kept on your computer to listen to whenever you like.

The system for making programmes available to 'listen again' online is automated. This automated system allows us to make all of our programmes available but there is a short period after broadcast, while the audio is encoded, before the programme appears online.

Programmes are normally available approximately 30 minutes after the end of transmission but occasionally it can take longer.

How long do programmes stay available to listen to online?

Most programmes are available to listen to on demand for 30 days after broadcast.

Where rights and permissions have been agreed programmes can be made available on demand in perpetuity.

If a programme is not available for longer than 30 days it could be due to rights restrictions.

I'm having problems listening to a Radio 4 programme on my computer

If you are having difficulties with listening online please check the iPlayer Radio Help pages to see if your technical questions are answered there.

Please note: The BBC does not control the technology that runs the internet. We cannot help with problems relating to audio, browsers, interruptions to audio streams etc.

What is a podcast and how can I podcast, or download, a Radio 4 programme?

A number of Radio 4 programmes are available to download. A download or podcast is an audio file that you can save to your computer or mp3 player. Many mobile phones also have this functionality. You can keep any programme you download on your device, to play whenever you like. You can keep these programmes permanently.

You can use iTunes or any other podcast software to manage your podcasts, or simply download individual programmes directly from the Radio 4 Website. Find details of how to download on the Radio 4 Podcasts page.

Can I listen from outside the UK?

You can listen to Radio 4 online anywhere in the world however there are some types of content where we are restricted from distributing overseas, usually because of sports rights. If this is the case then the live and on demand stream will be blocked to international audiences for the duration of that segment. International audiences will hear a message informing them of the rights restrictions in place.

You won't be able to pick up BBC stations broadcasting on FM, MW and DAB very far from UK shores. They are funded by the UK licence fee and the BBC is not permitted to re-broadcast them from other countries.

However, in some areas close to the UK (such as Ireland, France, Denmark, Belgium and Holland) it is possible to receive Radio 4 on 198 kHz long wave.

You can get in touch with some programmes (eg Call You and Yours) on our text number on 84844. Texts will not be included in your inclusive text bundles, and the exact cost of each message depends on your service provider - it is typically between 10 and 15 pence per message. MMS (Picture) messages may cost more - you should check with your service provider for exact details. Please make sure you take care when entering our number as some subscription services have similar numbers to ours.

Complaints

The BBC has a system for dealing with complaints from our audience. All complaints about the BBC, our programmes and services should be sent via our Complaints Site.

Enquiries and Feedback

Due to the large amount of correspondence we receive, it is not always possible for us to reply to emails individually. Please read our How To Listen section and FAQs before contacting us where we give answers to the most common questions we receive.

Due to the large number of emails we receive if the answer to your query is already covered in the How to Listen or FAQs sections we are unlikely to answer your email.

Your Privacy

The BBC and any service provider we engage will use the information you supply to respond to your queries/comments, to develop and enhance our services and for statistical analysis of audiences and users. For full details of our policy regarding the personal information we collect about you visit our Privacy and Cookies page.

Radio 4 Long Wave

Radio 4 on Long Wave

Radio 4 on Long Wave

** Disruption to Long Wave tranmissions from March 2014**

The BBC's Droitwich transmitter will be subject to daily shutdowns on BBC Radio 4 LW, between 10:00-17:30, from Saturday 29 March until Summer 2014. There will also be periods of reduced power for BBC Radio 5 Live MW. This is to enable engineers to work safely, while refurbishing the long wave antenna, and the two masts which support it.

Radio 4 is available on Long Wave. A number of programmes are broadcast only on Radio 4 Long Wave and are not available on demand through iPlayer, but you can listen again using the links below where the programmes are available in Windows Media and Flash.

If you are having issues with the Windows Media Player playing the file, please right click on the file and save it to your desktop. Then open your player and then drag and drop the file you saved onto the player window or use the player's File menu to open the file. For more help with Windows Media Player please see BBC Webwise Guides.